Paint containing cap for flexible tubes



E. c. CAMPBELL, JR, ETAL 3,131,833

PAINT CONTAINING CAP FOR FLEXIBLE TUBES May 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1961 y 1964 E. c. CAMPBELL, JR, ETAL 3,131,833

PAINT CONTAINING CAP FOR FLEXIBLE TUBES Filed Dec. 4, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BPIVEST 641w dand fi za BY Will/AM L 511027 Q JMIM M A Tromvz-Y United States Patent 3,131,833 PAINT CONTAINING CAP FOR FLEXIBLE TUBES Ernest Calvin Campbell, 312, New Rochelie, N.Y. (469 Lakeside Blvd, Franklin lakes, NJ.), and William L. Short, 10516 E. 23rd St, Independence, Mo. Filed Dec. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 156,896 9 Claims. (1. 222-443) This invention relates to a reservoir cup for containing, displaying and dispensing plastic materials, and more particularly to a cup which is adapted to selectively communicate with a collapsible dispensing tube.

Many plastic materials, such as toilet creams, greaselike medical preparations and oil paints are preferably dispensed from a relatively small shallow bowl or cuplike container rather than the usual collapsible tube or wide mouth jar for convenience in handling and obtaining the desired quantity for the particular application. For example, in practicing oil painting, the usual procedure is to squeeze a quantity of oil paint from a collapsible tube onto a palette or mixing surface where it may be mixed with other paint or used in the pure state. This results in a good deal of waste since it is difiicult to control the quantity of paint urged from the tube, and any excess dries out and cannot be reclaimed. In dispensing paint from a small cup reservoir, however, a palette knife may be used to withdraw very nearly the exact quantity of paint desired.

It is often preferable for a person who desires such a plastic material to obtain a small quantity thereof as a sample for preliminary investigation or other reason. In the case of oil painting it is often prohibitively expensive to obtain a wide assortment of colors in the quantity normally sold in tubes, but it is highly desirable to have a wide range of colors on hand. Also, certa n colors are used to a much greater extent than others, often making tube quantity purchase uneconomical except for the most used colors. Regardless of the quantity of a plastic material used, however, it is often desirable that such material be dispensed from a reservoir cup.

Under most conditions, it is desirable to cover a plastic material when not actually dispensing same to prevent drying or contamination thereof. When painting with oils it is desirable that the color of the paint in a reservoir be readily observable without the necessity of removing a cover and thus exposing the paint to the atmosphere. Also, when oil painting, it is desirable that an orderly arrangement of paint containing reservoirs be provided so that desired colors may be quickly located; however, heretofore such an orderly arrangement has been difiicult due to inefficient use of space and the variable sizes of paint tubes caused by variable remaining quantities in the respective tubes.

It is the principal objects of the present invention to provide a reservoir cup from which plastic materials may be accurately dispensed with convenience; to provide such a cup which includes a transparent lid or cover through which the material may be observed without exposing same to the atmosphere; to provide such a device which may be used as a container for merchandising small or sample quantities of plastic materials; to provide such a reservoir cup which contains a threaded bore which communicates with a reservoir except for a membrane or thin frangible partition which prevents flow between the threaded bore and the reservoir; to provide such a device wherein the threaded bore is adpted to receive the threaded neck portion of a collapsible tube whereby plastic material may be fed into the reservoir from the tube by rupturing the frangible partition therebetween when the initial quantity of material contained in the reservoir has been depleted to a point where replacement is desirable; to provide reservoir cups and supporting stands "ice therefor which are adapted to be positioned in an orderly arrangement with respect to each other regardless of variations in the dimensions of tubes secured respectively thereto or whether tubes are present at all; to provide such a reservoir cup arrangement wherein individual cups may be conveniently removed for filling or dispensing and replaced in a proper orderly arrangement with respect to other reservoir cups with ease and facility; to provide an upwardly opening cup member having a threaded bore in the side thereof adapted to receive the threaded neck of a collapsible tube containing plastic material so that the tube may rest on its side while material is being dispsensed from the upwardly opening cup; to provide a reducer for a reservoir cup threaded bore so that tubes having various size threaded necks may be connected thereto; and to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention Will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective exploded view of a reservoir cup and transparent cover therefor embodying this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the reservoir cup with the cover secured thereon and showing a frangible partition between the threaded bore and the reservoir.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the reservoir cup assembled with a supporting stand and having a collapsible tube secured thereto and the frangi ble partition removed.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of a reservoir cup assembled with a support stand.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of a plurality of reservoir cups assembled with a plurality of mutually attached support stands with portions broken away to show the presence or absence and condition of collapsible tubes secured to respective cups.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view through a reservoir cup of a modified construction and having a collapsible tube secured thereto and the frangible partition between the threaded bore and reservoir.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the reservoir cup embodiment shown in FIGURE 6 with the tube removed therefrom.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional View showing a further modified construction of reservoir cup having a round reservoir with external threads for receiving a threaded cap, and a bore reducer.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the bore reducer which is operable to adapt threaded bores to threaded tube necks of smaller than usual size.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a reservoir cup embodying the features of our invention. The cup 1 in the illustrated example comprises a square-shaped base 2 having an outwardly extending lip portion 3 extending therearound for a purpose described hereinafter. The reservoir cup 1 has an upwardly extending concave side wall 4 surrounding an upwardly opening reservoir 5 of oval bowl shape for con veniently containing plastic mateirals for dispensing, for example, oil paint 6, FIGURE 3. A removable cover 7 is formed of any suitable transparent slightly flexible material and has a downwardly extending lip portion 8 adapted to slightly stretch outwardly to foim an airtight fit over the rim portion 9 of the reservoir 5. The cover 7 has an annular outwardly extending lip 10 to provide a convenient gripping member for removing the cover from the reservoir cup.

The reservoir cup 1 is hollow in construction at 11 whereby a minimum of material is required for forming same. A neck portion 12 is integral with an inner wall 13. which forms the reservoir 5. The inner wall 13 is integral with the side wall 4.- The neck portion 12 depends downwardly from the inner wall 13 and has a threaded bore '14 extending therethrough and communicating with the reservoir as illustrated in FIGURE 3. A collapsible tube has an externally threaded neck portion 16 threadedly engaged with the threaded bore 14 whereby'the contents (not shown) of the tube 15 communicates with the oil paint 6 in the reservoir 5 when the tube is squeezed or rolled. As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the reservoir cup 1 is maintained spaced above any suitable supporting surface 16 by a support stand 17 which is open at the top 18 and bottom 19 thereof and comprises interconnected side wall members 20 which are adapted to form a hollow vertically elongated chamber 21' which is square in horizontal cross-section. The top IS-ofthesupporting stand 17 engages the lip portion 3 of the reservoir cup 1, providing vertical support therefor, but permitting the reservoir cup 1 to be easily lifted upwardly therefrom for removal. The tube 15 is held in suspension by the neck portion 16 and is contained within the hollow chamber 21 when the reservoir cup 1 is engaged with the top 18. It is apparent that the reservoir cup 1 will be maintained in the same position with respect to the supporting stand 17 regardless of the amount of material remaining in the tube 15 or whether the tube 15 is present at all.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the threaded bore 14 of the reservoir cup 1 is closed at the bottom of the reservoir by a thin frangible membrane or partition member 22. The partition member 22 provides a complete closure for reservoir 5 preventing a passage of material downwardly therefrom through thethreaded bore 14. It is apparent that the partition member 22 must be punctured or removed before material contained in the tube 15 can be inserted into the reservoir 5 through the threaded bore 14. However, the reservoir cup 1 is used in the same manner for dispensing material such as paint 6 therefrom regardless of whether or not the partition member 22 has been removed.

It will be appreciated that the plastic material, such as paint 6 may be placed in the reservoir 5 by the material manufacturer and the partition member 22 and cover 7 will retain the material in the reservoir cup 1 so that it may be sold without being originally contained in a tube: If it is desired to use a large quantity of the particular material in the future, the partition member 22 may then be punctured or removed, the tube 15 containingthe material secured to the reservoir cup 1 and thus a much greater quantity of material is made conveniently available for use. The cover 7 provides the same protection and .view of the reservoir contents in the presence or absence of the tube 15. When a tube of material communicates with'the reservoir, the reservoir may be easily kept full at all times so that air is not trapped therein if this is important in preserving the material.

The desirability of the above described reservoir cup 'interfitting due to the respective square cross-sectional shapes of the supporting stands 17. When arranged as illustrated in FIGURE 5, the reservoir cups 1 are maintained at a common level and a desired relatonship with respect to each other regardless of whether the. respective reservoir cups have a full tube such as 25 threadedly engaged therewith or a partly used tube such as 26 engaged therewith or no tube at all, as indicated at 27.

The reservoir cup 1 hereinabove described may be transparent or opaque and is preferably formed of a moldable plastic resin, such as polyethylene or polystyrene, however, glass, metal or other suitable material may be used if desired. The reservoir cups 1 may be of any suitable color, preferably white, black or gray when used to contain oil paints.

Referring to FIGURES 6 and 7, there is shown a reservoir cup 28 having a reservoir 29 therein and a cover 30 therefor. The body 31 of the reservoir cup 28 has an upwardly extending cylindrical side 32 through which a threaded bore 33 extends. The threaded bore 33 communicates with a curved passageway 34 formed in the interior of the body 31 and communicating with the reservoir 29 in the absence of a thin frangible membrane or partition member 35 which is similar in function to the partition member 22 described above. It is apparent that the reservoir cup 23 may be used without additional supply means to dispense a plastic material 36 from the reservoir 29 when the partition member 35 is intact. desired to provide greater quantities or replaced quantities of the material 36 a suitable collapsible tube. 37 containing material 35 is engaged with the threaded bore 33 and the partition member 35 punctured or destroyed whereby the material contained in the tube 37 may be urged into the reservoir 29 by squeezing the tube. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 6 the tube 37 is maintained in a stable position lying on its side although dispensing is obtained from the normally upright reservoir'29.

A further embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIGURE 8 wherein the reservoir cup body 38 has external threads 39 adjacent the reservoir rim 4% and the cap 41 has internal threads 42 adapted to engage the threads 39 for maintaining a more positive seal for preserving a material 43 particularly susceptible to deterioration in the atmosphere. A thin frangible membrane or partition member 44 provides the same function as the members 22 and 35 described above. a

The embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 8 has an adapter or reducer 45 threadedly engaged with the threaded bore 46 thereof. The reducer 45 has internal threads 47 adapted to engage the neck (not shown) of a collapsible tube which is too small to engage the threaded bore 46, thus permitting a more universal use of the reservoir cup.

It is apparent that we have provided a reservoir cupwhich is adapted to be selectively used with or without a dispensing tube and which is suitable to provide orderly' easily altered arrangements thereof. It isto be understood that while we have illustrated and described certain forms of our invention it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofaras such limitations are included inthe claims. 7

What We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A reservoir cup for containing plastic material or the like for dispensing and adapted for selective connec-' tion to the threaded neck portion of a collapsible tube containing an additional supply of said material comprising:

(a) a body forming a reservoir, said body having an inwardly extending concave, side wall and a depend-.,

(d) said bore being adapted seiectively to threadedly engage the threaded neck portion of the tube for If it is.

providing a continuously open communication between the tube and said reservoir in the absence of said partition for selectively dispensing material in the absence or in the presence of the tube.

2. A reservoir cup for containing plastic material or the like for dispensing and adapted for selective connection to the threaded neck portion of a collapsible tube containing an additional supply of said material comprising:

(a) a body having a base and a side wall and an inner wall, said base having portions of larger diameter than said side wall for supporting said reservoir when detached from said tube,

(b) said inner wall forming an upwardly opening material reservoir surrounded by said side wall,

(c) a removable cover for said reservoir, means on said cover engaging said reservoir to form an airtight seal therebetween, a neck portion integral with said inner wall,

(d) a threaded bore extending into said neck portion,

(e) and a removable frangible partition between said bore and said reservoir,

(i) said bore being adapted to selectively threadedly engage the threaded neck portion of the tube for pro viding a continuously open communication between the tube and said reservoir in the absence of said partition, whereby said reservoir cup is adapted for selectively dispensing material in the absence or in the presence of the tube.

3. In combination, a reservoir cup for containing plastic material or the like for dispensing and adapted for selective connection to the threaded neck portion of a collapsible tube containing an additional supply of said material comprising:

(a) a body having a base forming a lip portion,

(17) said body having an upwardly extending side wall and an inner wall forming an upwardly opening reservoir surrounded by said side wall,

(0) said reservoir being of bowLshape for conveniently containing plastic material for dispensing,

(d) a resilient, removable transparent cover for said reservoir having a depending flange portion engaging over the side wall of the reservoir to prevent air from entering said resorvoir when the cover is placed thereon,

(e) a neck portion integral with said inner wall and depending downwardly therefrom, a threaded bore extending into said neck portion,

(f) a removable frangible partition between said bore and said reservoir,

(g) said bore being adapted to selectively threadedly engage the threaded neck portion of the tube for providing a continuously open communication between the tube and said reservoir in the absence of said partition whereby said reservoir cup is adapted for selectively dispensing material in the absence or in the presence of the tube.

(h) and a support stand engaging with said lip portion to maintain said reservoir cup spaced upwardly from a supporting surface a distance sufiicient to maintain a tube engaged therewith in suspension therefrom.

4. The reservoir cup of claim 2 wherein,

(a) said neck portion communicates with said side Wall whereby the collapsible tube is engageable with said threaded bore while maintained in a position lying on its side.

5. The reservoir cup of claim 1 including,

(a) a threaded reducer adapted to be engaged in said threaded bore for connecting a tube thereto which is too small to engage said threaded bore.

6. The reservoir cup of claim 1 combined with a support stand for said reservoir cup body comprising:

(a) side wall members mutually interconnected to form an elongated hollow chamber, said side wall members forming,

(b) a stand portion adapted to removably engage said base portion of said body for providing support therefor,

(c) said stand being adapted to be easily disengaged from said body,

(d) said chamber being adapted to contain said tube when said tube is engaged with said threaded bore.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein,

(a) a plurality of said support stands are interconnected for supporting a plurality of reservoir cups in spaced orderly relation.

8. The combination of claim 3 wherein,

(a) said reservoir cup body base is square-shaped to engage said support stand.

9. The combination of claim 8, said reservoir cup body stand comprising:

(a) interconnected elongated rectangular side wall members, said side wall members forming,

(b) a vertically elongated hollow chamber square in horizontal cross-section, said side wall members forming,

(c) stand top portion adapted to removably engage said lip portion for providing vertical support for said body and permitting said body to be easily lifted upwardly therefrom,

(d) said chamber being adapted to contain said tube in a suspended condition when said tube is engaged with said threaded bore.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 592,145 Iaques Oct. 19, 1897 1,238,195 Ritz Aug. 28, 1917 1,434,921 Simpson Nov. 7, 1922 2,177,782 McQuinn Oct. 31, 1939 2,518,751 Carlton Aug. 15, 1950 2,591,455 Marshall Apr. 1, 1952 

1. A RESERVOIR CUP FOR CONTAINING PLASTIC MATERIAL OR THE LIKE FOR DISPENSING AND ADAPTED FOR SELECTIVE CONNECTION TO THE THREADED NECK PORTION OF A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CONTAINING AN ADDITIONAL SUPPLY OF SAID MATERIAL COMPRISING: (A) A BODY FORMING A RESERVOIR, SAID BODY HAVING AN INWARDLY EXTENDING CONCAVE SIDE WALL AND A DEPENDING NECK PORTION AND HAVING A BASE PORTION FORMING A SUPPORT FOR THE RESERVOIR, (B) A THREADED BORE IN SAID DEPENDING NECK PORTION OF SAID BODY, A COVER FOR SAID RESERVOIR FOR PREVENTING AIR FROM CONTACTING SAID MATERIAL IN SAID RESERVOIR, (C) AND A REMOVABLE PARTITION BETWEEN SAID BORE AND SAID RESERVOIR, (D) SAID BORE BEING ADAPTED SELECTIVELY TO THREADEDLY ENGAGE THE THREADED NECK PORTION OF THE TUBE FOR PROVIDING A CONTINUOUSLY OPEN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TUBE AND SAID RESERVOIR IN THE ABSENCE OF SAID PARTITION FOR SELECTIVELY DISPENSING MATERIAL IN THE ABSENCE OR IN THE PRESENCE OF THE TUBE. 